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run into Raul, it only made sense to take it along.

5
    Heather
                  The bar was hopping tonight, and two of the waitresses had called in sick. My crappy night was only just beginning. Tracy and I were the one’s manning the main floor while Sara took the private rooms and the upstairs lounge. It was a madhouse.
                  “Johnny, I need three more for table seven,” I called out as I sashayed my way through the crowd.
                  “Coming right up, sweet cakes!” He meant no harm by the nickname and it never bothered me that, for whatever reason, he bestowed that honor upon me and me alone.
                  “Thought I told you to hang with the girls tonight,” Tommy said, menacingly as he grabbed my upper arm so tightly that it was sure to leave a bruise. I hadn’t even noticed him there.
                  “We’re shorthanded,” I replied with a hint of sarcasm. “Two of your women called in sick!” I hadn’t meant for it to sound as snarky as it did and I was sure he’d think of some way for me to pay later. Tommy didn’t take lip from anyone, especially not from his girls .
                  “Tomorrow then,” he said, smugly. “I’ll collect sooner or later. I always do, doll. You’d do well to remember that.” He leaned against me, his body pushing me further into the wood of the bar until the edge was pressing uncomfortably in my back. His breath reeked of alcohol and pot and one look in his eyes left no doubt that he was high. My only choice was to agree with him. Anything else and it wouldn’t fare well.              
                  “Of course, Tommy.” I stood firm, shaking his hand loose from my arm. “Whatever you say, sir .” He got a high just from my choice of words, but it wasn’t a show of respect. Regardless of how I felt, he was still my boss. I just needed to get through this night and then it’d all be over.
                  I was shaken and Tracy must have noticed. She made her way over to me while throwing a maddening look in Tommy’s direction. “Take a break, sweetie. I’ll cover you for a few.” She was one of the sweetest women you’d ever meet and it was a shame she was stuck working in a dump like this. If anyone deserved better it was Tracy. She was a single mother of twin boys and a teenage daughter, who by the way was very close to dancing on the stage herself. I swear Tracy was gonna have trouble if she didn’t get a handle on that girl, but at fifteen it was probably already too late.
                  “I’m okay, Trace. Maybe later,” I forced a smile and she patted my back.
                  “Take shit from no one,” she reminded me. “No. One.”
                  I nodded my head and tried to shake the horrible feeling that was settling in the pit of my stomach. Something about the whole night felt off, as if I was being watched, but I couldn’t afford to let it affect me. I sighed and turned, grabbing my tray and the drinks that Johnny had placed on top.
                  “Here ya go, boys,” I said, cheerfully as I passed around their drinks.
                  “What else ya got for me, sugar?” The old man winked and tried to sneak his hand up my skirt, unsuccessfully. I batted his hand and moved away, somehow managing to maintain a smile. All I wanted to do was deck him.
                  “Now you know the rules, boys. No touching.” Rules, schmules. It doesn’t make a damn difference to any of them. They thought we were all free for the taking and it was our job to encourage it. The more they drank the more money that went into Tommy’s pocket.
                  “Just one little touch, kitten. I won’t bite,” one of the other men said. He gave me a sickening grin, revealing a few missing teeth, causing me to pause and cringe